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The accounting bridge program online at Grand Canyon University is an option if you have a bachelor’s degree in an approved business field, other than accounting, and want to work toward earning your master’s degree in accounting. The accounting bridge program will teach you the fundamental background knowledge you need to apply for enrollment in a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program. The courses taken are the introductory courses to an MSA, which may enable you to feel more confident as you work toward graduate-level studies.
Choosing the accounting bridge program at GCU can prepare you for accounting graduate courses in a master’s degree program. Since it can be completed online from virtually anywhere, the bridge program provides flexible and convenient instruction.
Bachelor’s degree holders who are working full time can take bridge program courses online, making it easier to balance work and school.
This program includes accounting graduate courses that cover all the topics needed to transition from a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field to an MSA program.
Some of these topics include:
Accounting cycle
Financial statements
Principles of accounting
Cost-volume-profit analysis
Budgets and payroll
Capital investments
Income statements
Retirement benefits
Taxation and auditing
After completion of the accounting bridge program at GCU, you may be eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Accounting program. This degree-conferring graduate program can prepare you to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination. This exam is required for achieving a CPA license in your state, residence or practice.1
Accountants with advanced degrees may pursue management and leadership positions in corporate and public accounting. If you see yourself as a future budget analyst, financial examiner, tax preparer or financial risk specialist, a bridge to the Master of Science in Accounting may be the right path for you. While no academic program can be guaranteed to result in a certain career outcome, some top executives do have an academic background in an area such as accounting, along with the necessary work experience.1
Higher education is an investment in your future, and the quality of education matters. While you consider your options for a bridge to the Master of Science in Accounting, it’s important to verify that the university you choose is accredited. Institutional accreditation aligns with the quality of the college, as acknowledged by its peers. GCU is proud to be an institutionally accredited school.
As you think about transitioning to the accounting field from another business-related discipline, you may have some questions. Explore the following FAQs and answers as you consider applying for enrollment in the accounting bridge program.
Accounting can be an exciting field to work in because it offers variety. CPAs might work on tax returns one day and financial statements or audits the next. It also offers versatility, as you could choose to work within nearly any industry (organizations from apple farms to zoos all need accountants) and in a variety of specializations. Some accountants choose to launch their own CPA firms, making it a solid choice for those with an entrepreneurial mindset.
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting, then you can apply directly to an MSA program. However, if you have a business-related degree in a discipline other than accounting, you may not necessarily be prepared to tackle accounting graduate courses. In this situation, it’s recommended that you gain some foundational knowledge with a bridge to the Master of Science in Accounting before applying to an MSA.
The four main types of accounting are as follows:
Position yourself for a possible career transition to the accounting field. Apply for enrollment in the accounting bridge program at GCU and be taught core competencies in accounting. Fill out the form on this page to get started.
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, Sept. 8). How to Become an Accountant or Auditor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, Sept. 8). What Accountants and Auditors Do. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2023.
3 Palatnik, B., CPA, MBA, PhD., & Blaber, Z., CPA, PhD. (2022, Feb. 28). Choosing between public and corporate accounting. New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2023.
4 Ringoen, L., CPA, CFF, CIRA. (n.d.). What Does a Forensic Accountant Do? The Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2023.
Online: $485 per credit [More Info]
Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Bachelor's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
*Math and reading only on a 1600 point scale (test date after 3/1/2016). SAT score of 1380 required for 2400 point scale (test date before 3/1/2016).
